Is this destiny?

The circular booth where Noah and Chloe took seats was further away from others, so they could talk without being overheard, and they also had a good view of the restaurant.

It was not a big booth, maybe for four grownup people to sit comfortably. Chloe sat first and scooted inside, while Noah sat on the edge.

Looking around, Chloe met many curious gazes of existing patrons. Most of them watched Chloe and Noah with awe and in a few expressions on female's faces, Chloe noticed jealousy. It made Chloe feel like she is on a date with an idol. Well, in this neighborhood, Noah is a celebrity and he definitely has the looks to be an idol.

Chloe was pleased to see that she was not overdressed because most of the people present wore casual clothing.

A male server arrived within a minute with two menus pressed under his upper arm, and he carried two glasses of water.

He placed one glass in front of Noah, and the second one in front of Chloe while introducing himself in an official tone to Chloe: "I am Flynn, your server for tonight." He turned toward Noah. "Will you have your usual?"

Noah's gaze was fixed on Chloe. "I will wait for the lady to order before deciding."

The server looked at Chloe. "Do you know what you will have, or you need a minute?"

"I need a minute…"

Flynn placed the menus on the table and bowed a little. "I will be back."

Chloe looked through the menu that was filled with American and Mexican food choices.

"Do you recommend something?", Chloe asked Noah and she lifted her gaze only to see him look at her intently. He didn't touch the menu that was placed in front of him. Didn't he say that he was hungry? Or maybe he already knew what he will have.

"Chorizo burrito is a popular item.", Noah said. "If you like heat in your food, I recommend the spicy chicken skillet. Alfredo pasta with grilled shrimp is also good…"

Noah started listing dishes and she had to ask… "The server mentioned your usual. What is that?"

"Shrimp and steak."

Chloe found it on the menu and hummed. "I will have that."

"You want to have my usual?", Noah asked with amusement in his voice. Chloe will have his favorite. Doesn't that mean that she is interested in him?

Chloe looked into Noah's dark brown eyes that smiled at her and she was not sure if he was flirting with her. Was he? He usually likes to tease her, but somehow the mood didn't seem to be a teasing one.

"You are obviously a regular in this place and that dish would not be your usual one if it's not good.", Chloe responded matter-of-factly, making Noah's inflating ego deflate considerably.

Noah pouted a bit and Chloe noticed. She was unable to prevent laughter from escaping her.

Not long after, two plates of shrimp and steak were placed in front of them. The steak had a white sauce covering it, and there were grilled asparagus, steamed broccoli, baked potatoes, and sweet corn on the side.

"Mmm…", Chloe hummed in satisfaction while chewing the tender meat. "This is delicious."

"I'm glad you like it.", Noah said.

"How often do you come to this place?"

Noah shrugged, indicating that he is not sure. "I don't have a steady schedule, but when I'm in the area and it's close to mealtime, I come here."

  "The food is good, and I've never seen this big portions.", Chloe said while eyeing the food.

"What kind of portions you usually get?", Noah urged her to talk about herself. He wanted to know everything related to Chloe and he was happy to see that she was answering his questions.

The time passed without them noticing, and they were almost done with the meal when a female server approached them.

"Can I interest you in dessert?"

Chloe and Noah stopped talking and looked up at the woman who was now standing next to their table, close to Noah who was sitting at the edge of the booth.

The server lady had a dark red server's uniform that didn't hide her curves. Chloe glanced over the woman's pretty face, full chest, narrow waist, and Chloe felt a lump in her throat when she noticed that woman's hand is on Noah's shoulder.

It lasted for only a second before the woman retracted her hand and looked at them with a smile, but Chloe saw it.

Noah didn't show any visible reaction to that touch like it didn't happen, but Chloe's woman's intuition made Chloe see red flags; not because of the woman, but because of Noah.

Chloe is an observant person, and she was observing Noah. People look at Noah with various gazes, from fear to respect and admiration, but no one dares to come in a touching distance with him, yet this woman touched him, and he acted like it's normal.

"Daphne, I didn't know you work the evening shift on weekends.", Noah said in a monotone, and the lump in Chloe's throat increased. Noah knew the woman's name and even mentioned her work schedule.

Daphne's smile widened. She was pleased that Noah kept track of her shifts. "I switched with Suzy. I was working the booths on the other side, but when I heard that you are in the house, I asked Flynn to switch with me, so that I can offer you dessert."

Noah hummed in response and glanced at Chloe. His brows furrowed a bit when he realized that Chloe's mood dropped, but Chloe's expression didn't crack so he didn't want to ask her about it. Not in front of Daphne.

"Do you want something for dessert?", Noah asked Chloe while putting the dessert menu in front of her.

"No. I'm full. Thank you.", Chloe responded curtly without looking at the menu, confirming Noah's suspicion that something spoiled her mood. Was it Daphne?, Noah wondered. Did Daphne do something non-audibly while he was not looking?

Chloe scolded herself internally. What was wrong with her? She knew that this was only dinner, and that she should stop thinking about Noah. She told herself that whatever feelings are growing within her are useless because nothing will happen.

However, during this dinner Chloe was next to Noah… a guy who helped her many times and he was kind and a gentleman and sometimes teasing, but she didn't mind. He was interested in what she had to say, and she enjoyed his company, and for the last hour, she allowed a part of her to dream that maybe something can come out of it.

'How stupid…', Chloe thought. 'A man like him would never be interested in a weak woman as I am. At most, I can be a fleeting infatuation, someone for a night of fun and when it's over, the novelty of it will wear off and I am to blend with the rest of the women he left behind.'

She wondered if Daphne has fun with Noah. That was highly likely, otherwise, Daphne would not go out of her way to switch with Flynn and make an appearance. Chloe asked herself if she will allow herself to be a woman like Daphne, stealing 'accidental' touches and smiling sweetly at Noah while he nearly ignores her? Would Noah ignore Daphne if Chloe is not here?

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